174 . MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The above figures are given as an approximation to right; 

 and it is obvious, if the foregoing statement is true, that the 

 Buckeye mower for two horses requires less power of draft out 

 of grass than either of the others, and the Perry mower the 

 most ; and also that the Kniffen mower requires the least power 

 to cut the grass. 



Of the mowers for one horse, the KnifFen seems to require 

 less draft than others out of the grass, while the Buckeye requires 

 the least power in the grass. 



For the Committee, 



Israel Whitcomb. 



MILCH COWS. 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



There are valuable animals in the county, of all the different 

 breeds, and it is not uncommon to hear of twenty quarts of milk 

 per day in the height of feed, and of ten quarts per day for the 

 three hundred and sixty-five days, and of large amounts of but- 

 ter made from one cow. How is it that we have so meagre a 

 show in this department ? Are gentlemen unwilling to certify 

 to the amount their cows may give ? "Without facts it would 

 be impossible for the Committee to decide, and we think the 

 society has wisely determined that no premium should be given 

 without a statement setting forth the amount of milk given dur- 

 ing the first ten days of June and the first ten days of Septem- 

 ber, &c. This not only gives some data to the Committee 

 whereby they may determine the merits of the different animals, 

 but — what is of more importance — it gives to the farmer and 

 the public a knowledge of what a good animal, well cared for, 

 can produce in milk ; and with this knowledge, every man who 

 has a milch cow or a herd will compare the products of his own 

 with those which are exhibited, and if there is a disparity he 

 will inquire as to the cause ; and we suppose that it is among 

 the great objects of the society first to obtain the facts by exhi- 

 bition and statement, and then to elicit inquiry and comparison. 



